UCD Beacon Clinical Tutor

Job Title: Clinical Tutor (Surgery) 0.5 FTE (20 hour contract)

Department: UCD Beacon Hospital Academy & UCD School of Medicine

Reports to: Administrative & Clinical Tutor Responsibilities: Dr Ruth Pilkington, Director of Medical Education & Research, Beacon Hospital

Date: July 2024

Overall Purpose of Job

Beacon Hospital has an academic partnership with University College Dublin and one of our principle objectives within this partnership is to support the clinical education programme in the UCD School of Medicine.

The clinical tutor role plays an instrumental role in identifying key teaching moments for our undergraduate students who are attached to specialities as part of their experiential learning. All clinical tutors are part of a vibrant community of academic staff who pass on their clinical experience and expertise to the next generation of medical professionals.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables: Clinical Tutor

1.1. Coordinate and participate in the teaching and training of the students in Beacon Hospital.

1.1.1. Provide tutorial support and facilitate shared learning experiences for students while on placements.

1.1.2. Provide lectures as part of the formal clinical curriculum and assist with the preparation of clinical examinations.

1.1.3. Provide a level of supervision of clinical activity appropriate to the competence and experience of the individual student.

1.1.4. Utilise a range of appropriate methods of teaching and assessment to demonstrate clinical learning opportunities - i.e. OSCE style tutorials, problem-based learning and bed-side tutorials.

1.2. Liaise with relevant UCD personnel to ensure that clinical placements satisfy academic requirements and ensure integrated delivery of all courses.

1.3. Coordinate and partake in the orientation and appraisal of medical students attending Beacon Hospital.

1.4. Partake in the competency assessment of interns using the national intern competency framework tools within 30 working days of the intern's commencement date.

1.5. Demonstrate leadership by assisting in the professional and personal development of the students and Interns throughout their clinical placement at the Beacon Hospital through promotion of self-learning, formal lectures and tutorials.

1.6. Act as a resource for students and Interns seeking specialty information and guidance.

1.7. Ensure that the relevant information about progress and performance is made available to the Beacon Hospital and UCD student placement coordinator.

1.8. Act and behave professionally and perform one's duties in a manner that optimises patient care and protects and enhances the reputation of the UCD Beacon Hospital Academy.

1.9. Adhere to Hospital Policies and Procedures e.g. JCI standards, Code Blue, Infection Prevention and Control, Falls Reduction and data protection.

1.10. Contribute to quality improvement; risk management initiatives and policy development so that the overall clinical education is of the highest quality and reflective of best practice.

1.11. Build upon the library of tutorial content available in the hospital. The tutor is required to prepare tutorials that can be used in each of the module s - i.e. Surgery A/B and Clin Res 1, and that can be reproduced with ease each year by clinical tutors at the Beacon Hospital. These may include high level overviews of certain topics that can be taught to students with supporting artefacts, media, and learning tools.

1.12. Engage actively in research and scholarly activity as appropriate to the school or hospital.

1.13. Champion the student and Interns' participation in clinical audits to ensure that UCD Beacon Hospital Academy programmes meet quality and patient safety standards and any other applicable performance measures.

1.14. Report to the appointed clinical lead consultant within the Beacon in all matters relating to medical students and Interns in the manner requested by said clinical lead.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Current relevant Full Irish Medical Council Registration.
• MRCS/Membership of relevant college is desirable

Experience

• Minimum 3 years postgraduate experience in an acute hospital setting.
• Experience in clinical education of students and junior staff.
• Experience in the effective management of a poor performing staff member and or student.
• Attendance at clinical tutor trainee days is required (if not complete the successful candidate will be given the opportunity to attend.)

Job Specific Competencies and Knowledge

• High-level interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written) facilitating effective interaction within the work areas, the university and other institutions is a mandatory requirement.
• Strong organisational skills, ability to prioritise work, to work to deadlines and to use own initiative is a mandatory requirement.
• Proven experience of working in a quality assurance/improvement environment is a mandatory requirement.
• Proven ability to work as part of a team is required.
• Ability to embrace change in a dynamic environment, willingness to adopt new procedures and undertake further appropriate training as required
• Experience in teaching and examining at third level is desirable.
• Experience in curriculum development and the development of clinical education programmes is desirable.
• Evidence of research and peer reviewed publications is desirable.
• Good knowledge of university rules, regulations and procedures, especially those pertaining to examinations, registration and student welfare is required.
• Experience in research development at third level is desirable.
• Experience of general and academic administration is desirable.
• Display awareness and appreciation of the service users and the ability to empathise with and treat others with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrate sufficient clinical knowledge and evidence-based practice to carry the out duties and responsibilities of the role.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to best practice standards.

All posts in Beacon Hospital require a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. Therefore, the post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager or hospital management.

This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility and deliverables at the time of its writing. As the Hospital and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the Hospital.